DRUG COURT OPENS NEW DOOR FOR ADDICTS

In a courtroom of grim people, Alfredo Hernandez beams.

One week ago, Hernandez was among the first group of addicts to enter the
Vancouver Drug Treatment Court, which allows addicts to choose treatment
rather than jail time. The drug court, which opened Dec. 4 without
fanfare, is the first in B.C. and the second in Canada.

"I feel like in one week, I have a new life, a new me," Hernandez said Tuesday.

Addicted to cocaine and heroin, Hernandez said he jumped at the opportunity
to participate in the drug treatment court program, held every Tuesday and
Thursday in a tiny courtroom inside the provincial courthouse on Main
Street in Vancouver.

For five days during the week, participants must attend treatment classes
from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and appear before Judge Jane Godfrey twice a week.

"You are doing everything we have asked of you," Godfrey said after hearing
from David MacIntyre, the director of the treatment program, that Hernandez
has kept every appointment.

Going to treatment every day was like attending school, Hernandez said in
an interview.

"I'm learning how to do this and there are many people around me who want
to make sure it works out."

Hernandez, who became addicted a year ago, said he wanted to stop when he
realized that every dime he was spending on drugs was one less dime he
could spend on his two daughters Michelle, 12, and Beverley, 17 months.

Hernandez' wife, Lorraine, said the program has not only changed their
lives, it has given the family a life.

"He's a family man now and it's a nice surprise. He's tried to go through
self-detox and it hasn't worked."

MacIntyre, the treatment director, said Hernandez' success after one week
is just the beginning. Of the eight people who have appeared so far at the
drug treatment court, Hernandez is the only one to have gone each day for
treatment and made every court appearance.

Tammy Marie Harper, charged with a single count of possession for the
purpose of trafficking cocaine, was the first to appear Tuesday in front of
Judge Godfrey.

In a barely audible voice, Harper could think of little to say when Godfrey
asked her why she wanted to go into treatment.

"There's many benefits I can get out of it. I need drug treatment,
methadone treatment [so I can] get some stability," she said.

After godfrey ordered Harper into treatment, she also directed her to stay
at her sister's residence and not go into the core Downtown Eastside
neighbourhood of Gore, Cambie, Pender and Hastings streets.

The Vancouver drug court has the support of all three levels of government.
For the next four years, it is funded by a $1.7 million grant from the
federal government.

With one dedicated judge, defence lawyer and Crown counsel, as well as the
drug treatment program director, and a probation officer, the program will
counsel 25 people at a time.

Participants in the program must first plead guilty to the charges against
them, then attend treatment five days a week and appear before Godfrey
twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

According to a 2000 report by the city of Vancouver, the number of overdose
deaths in B.C. has risen from 39 in 1988 to 331 in 1993. Since then, an
average of 147 overdose deaths have occurred per year in Vancouver alone.

Of the eight people scheduled to appear at drug court Tuesday, one did not
show and two men appeared before Godfrey under the influence.

"I made a bad choice. I know I want to stop. I don't wish to continue in
this way," said Mark Kamali, who was refused entry to a detox treatment
centre last Friday for not abiding by the rules of turning over his drugs.
"I'm really honestly trying and I have a lot of steps."

Kamali shook his head when Godfrey suggested he be remanded for a couple of
days to get clean.

"I spent a month in jail and it didn't help," Kamali said.

MacIntyre, who ran the drug treatment program at the Toronto drug court,
said there will be highs and lows for all participants.

"Their motivation is going to go up and down and when their personal
motivation decreases, that's when they'll need the most support."